Rulers & Emperors · Head-to-head
Paul Biya vs Manuel Noriega
No — based on their recorded years, Paul Biya (1933–) lived before Manuel Noriega (1934–2017), and their lifetimes did not overlap.
Paul Biya
The president of Cameroon since 1982, one of the world's longest-serving heads of state, whose long rule has drawn persistent criticism over elections and civil liberties.
Key achievements
- Served as prime minister of Cameroon under President Ahmadou Ahidjo from 1975 to 1982
- Became president of Cameroon in 1982 and has held the office for over four decades
- Is among the longest-serving current heads of state anywhere in the world
- Has faced sustained international criticism over disputed elections, press restrictions, and the handling of the Anglophone Crisis
Fast fact
Biya's decades in power have been marked by allegations of electoral fraud in successive elections and a prolonged, violent crackdown during the Anglophone Crisis that began in 2016.
Full profile of Paul Biya →Manuel Noriega
A military officer who ruled Panama as a de facto dictator through puppet presidents, later removed from power by a US invasion in 1989.
Key achievements
- Rose through Panama's military to become its de facto ruler from 1983 to 1989
- Never formally served as president, instead ruling through a series of puppet civilian presidents
- Was removed from power by the United States invasion of Panama in December 1989
- Was subsequently convicted on drug trafficking and other charges in the United States
Fast fact
Noriega had longstanding ties to American intelligence agencies before the United States invaded Panama in 1989 specifically to remove him from power.
Full profile of Manuel Noriega →Who lived first, Paul Biya or Manuel Noriega?
Paul Biya (1933–) lived first, before Manuel Noriega (1934–2017), based on their recorded years.
Were Paul Biya and Manuel Noriega contemporaries?
No — based on their recorded years, Paul Biya (1933–) lived before Manuel Noriega (1934–2017), and their lifetimes did not overlap.
What do Paul Biya and Manuel Noriega have in common?
Both Paul Biya and Manuel Noriega are grouped among our Rulers & Emperors figures and lived during the Modern Era.